Home
juvenile fiction
The Sages of Chelm and the Moon

The Sages of Chelm and the Moon

by Shlomo Abas

Illustrated by Omer Hoffman

Imprint: Green Bean Books

32 Pages, 6 x 9 in, 30 color illustrations

Hardcover
9781784383695
May 2019
Out of print. Available in digital formats at the links below.

$24.95

Digital download
9781784383701
March 2019

$11.97

Buy

Also available digitally:

Amazon

Apple

Barnes & Noble

Google

Casemate IPM will earn a small commission if you buy an ebook after clicking a link here.

Description
Authors
Praise

Welcome to the topsy-turvy world of Chelm – the city of wise fools celebrated in Jewish folklore. According to legend, Chelm was populated by preposterously silly townsfolk. There are numerous tales of their idiotic exploits and the most famous is the story of the people of Chelm and the moon…

The people of Chelm have a problem. They love to walk the streets at night under the light of the radiant moon. But every now and then, the moon disappears from the sky and they can’t find their way home. Perhaps someone is stealing it, or maybe it’s hiding on purpose? Being very clever, the wise people of Chelm know exactly what they must do. They will buy a brand-new moon – one that will shine clear and bright every night. But will everything go according to plan?

Shlomo Abbas retells the story with a perfect comic touch and Omer Hoffmann illustrates the tale beautifully.

For 4–8-year-olds.

Shlomo Abas, born 1948, is one of the leading children's writers in Israel. He started writing children's literature at the age of 29. To date, he has published 164 books, of which 43 are his original work as children's books, while the other 121 books are fables, folktales, and legends which he has collected, compiled and edited. A majority of those deal with Jewish folklore and culture in all its diverse communities.

Omer Hoffmann is an Israeli illustrator. His diverse body of work includes illustrations for newspapers, children's books and comics worldwide. Omer's illustrations were selected for the Hans Christian Andersen Illustration Honour List 2016 for the book Hardil Lo Ragill. He lives in Givatayim with his wife and their two children.

This whimsical story relates how the wise fools of Chelm conspire to purchase a full moon to illuminate their village “each and every night of the year.” It is hard not to laugh at the antics of those who want a moon that “looked down on them and smiled.” Award-winning artist Omer Hoffmann’s illustrations are charming. ~Hadassah Magazine

What a delight that Green Bean Books has brought this prolific Israeli author to an English-speaking audience! Award-winning illustrator, Omer Hoffman, has created colorful, detailed illustrations in an almost cartoon-like style, stamping lots of personality onto the foolish Chelmites. This book will be sure to please young and old alike. ~The Association of Jewish Libraries

'It’s always good to hear about the adventures of the wise people of Chelm. Shlomo Abas’ “The Sages of Chelm and the Moon,” delightfully illustrated by Omer Hoffman (Green Bean Books), is a funny and fresh retelling of the folk tale. Here, the townsfolk plot to buy a new moon —that won’t disappear and make their nights so dark they can’t find the way home.’
~The New York Jewish Week

“they were absolutely, thigh-slappingly, heart-stoppingly foolish—which is where much of the fun lies in the Chelm stories.”
~Global Literature in Libraries Initative